Compare towns
Sterling vs Gardner vs Foster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Gardner has the most renters (41.1% rent).
Foster has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sterling | Gardner | Foster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,629Lowest |
21,148Highest |
4,523 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
47.1±3Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Foster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gardner and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gardner and Foster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$67,518±$8kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$113,646±$18kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Foster and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$301,600±$20k 9% below U.S. |
$425,300±$30kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,109±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,509±$556Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Foster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,551 46% above U.S. |
$4,150Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$7,135Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±25.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Foster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
33 min 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.6%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Foster and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 149 in CT | #273 of 282 in MA | #22 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Sterling School District | Gardner | Foster |
| High school in town | None in town | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.